Pencil with internal illuminating means



Nov. 2, 1948.-

J. J. DEVlNE PENCIL WITH INTERNAL lL LUMINATING MEANS Filed Oct. 1, 19452 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 2, 1948. I J. J. DEVlNE 2,452,735

PENCIL WITH INTERNAL ILLUMINATING MEANS Filed Oct. 1, 1945 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Q W3 g/ JJDez'z'me INVENTOR.

i atented Nov. 2 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PENCIL WITH INTERNALILLUMINATING MEANS John J. Devine, Middletown, Conn.

Application October 1,1945, Serial No. 619,461

3 Claims. (Cl..120--18 This invention relates to pencils of the typeembodying a tubular casing and mechanism whereby removable lead isretracted or extended from the end of the pencil.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a pencil of thischaracter having self-contained illuminating means whereby the surfaceon which a person is writing and using the penoil, will be illuminated,the casing and cap closing the writing end of the casing, beingtransparent to allow the light rays from the illuminating means to beprojected therethrough.

An important object of the invention is to provide means whereby thelead barrel may be readily and easily removed and replaced should itbecome necessary to dismantle the pencil for repair and cleaningpurposes.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a pencil wherein thecasing is constructed of semi-rigid plastic material so that it mayexpand when the lead barrel is forced into the casing, means beingprovided on the lead barrel to frictionally contact the inner surface ofthe casing for securing the lead barrel in position. I With theforegoing and other objects in view which will appear as the descriptionproceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details ofconstruction and combinations of parts, hereinafter more fully describedand pointed out in the claims, it being understood that changes may bemade in the construction and arrangement of parts Without departing fromthe spirit of the invention as claimed.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of a pencil constructed in accordancewith the invention.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the pencil.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view through the casing taken atsubstantially right angles to Figure 2, a portion of the lead barrelhaving been removed.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on line 55 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6-8 of Figure 2.

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken on line 'l-| of Figure 2.

Figure 8 is a fragmental elevational view illustrating the leadprojecting and retracting means.

Figure 9 is an enlarged fragmental sectional View illustrating thecontact arms and contact 2 plate carried by the movable cap closing oneend of the casing.

Figure 10 is a longitudinal sectional view through one end of thecasing, illustrating the tubular key employed in removing the leadbarrel from the casing.

Figure 11 is a perspective view of the tubular key.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the casing or bodyportion of thepencil is indicated by the reference character 5 and is constructed ofplastic material of a transparent character, the plastic material beingof a quality to expand and contract, for purposes to be hereinafter morefully described.

Closing one end of the casing or body portion 5, is a conical cap 6which is also constructed of transparent semi-rigid plastic material,the cap 6 having an extension 1 at its inner end, of a diameter to fitwithin one end of the casing or body portion 5 in such a way that theconical cap will rotate therein.

The lead barrel, which is supported by the conical cap 6, is indicatedby the reference character 8 and is of the type including a stationarytubular barrel in which the screw 9 operates, the screw 9 connects withthe feeder 10 which passes through a square opening formed in the cap,the end of the feeder being extended through the apex of the cap. Thusit will be seen that due to this construction, the cap will cause thelead contained in the lead barrel, and particularly the screw 9 thereof,to be extended or retracted, according to the direction of rotation ofthe cap 6.

Secured to the inner end of the lead barrel 8, is

a retaining plate II. This retaining plate is of a length so that itsends extend appreciable distances beyond the sides of the lead barrel 8,as clearly shown by Figure 2 of the drawings, the outer edges of theplate being formed with notches l2 and beveled inner edges l3. Formed inthe inner surface of the casing 5, and extending inwardly from one endthereof, are oppositely disposed longitudinal grooves M which are ofWidths'to'accommodate the ends of the plate ll, there being providedlugs 15 at the inner ends of the grooves adapted to snap into thenotches I 2 of the retaining plate, securing the lead barrel and screw 9mounted therein, in position within the casing or body portion 5.

Curved contact plates l6 are embedded in the extension I of the conicalcap and are adapted to be engaged by the contact arms I! and I8 whichare secured within the body portion 5, completing the electric circuitto the lamp 2!. Dis.-

posed between the ends of the contact plates, are lugs [6' that providestops to normally prevent the movement of the cap 6 to complete thecircuit accidentally. In order to complete the circuit, it is necessaryto rotate the cap to cause one of the contact arms to move over the lugl6, whereupon both contact arms I! and I8 will be in contact with thecontact plate l6, otherwise only one contact arm will be in contact withthe contact plate.

The contact arm I! extends through the casing to a point to engage thedry cell casing [9 which forms a continuation of the casing or bodyportion, the casing I9 being secured to the body portion by means of thethreads formed at the end of the casing or body portion.

The reference character 20' indicates the battery which is held withinthe casing IS, the battery 20 having contact with the lamp 2-] which isheld within the casing or body portion 5, by means of the fixture 2 2.From the foregoing it will be obvious that when the lamp is lit, lightrays will be projected through the transparent wall of the casing aswell as the conical cap 6, illuminating the writing surface. It willfurther be seen that by rotating the conical cap 6, the lead will beextended, and the circuit to the lamp simultaneously completed to causethe lamp'to illuminate the pencil casing.

As shown, an annular rib 23 is provided at the base of the threads atthe rear end of the easing 5, providing a stop against which the easingl9 abuts; This annular rib also provides means for holding the barrelagainst slipping when it is desired to remove the lead barrel.

The lead barrel is removed by inserting the tubular key 24 into the rearend of the casing or body portion 5, after the casing 9, battery 20 andfixture 22 have been removed. The tubular key is formed with a cut-awayportion 25 which is adapted to provide a clearance for the key as it isbeing moved into the casing or body portion to contact the retainingplate I I. With the inner end of the tubular key 24 engaging theretaining plate, pressure is brought to bear on the tubular key 24,which pressure causes the casing or body portion 5 to expand as theretaining-plate is moved over the lugs l5, whereupon the conical captogether with the lead barrel may be removed. To replace the conical capand lead barrel, it-is only necessary to position the ends of theretaining plate in the grooves l4 and force the cap and lead barrelinwardly. As the beveled inner edges of-the retaining plate engage thelugs, the body portion or casing will be slightly expanded, allowing thelugs to snap into the notches I2, securely holding the cap and leadbarrel in position. From the foregoing it will be seen that I haveprovided simple means whereby the conical cap closing one end of thepencil, and lead barrel, are connected with the casing to the end thatthe cost of manufacture will be appreciably reduced.

It might be further stated that since the contact arm [8 is relativelyshort, the inner end be readily slid into and out of position, when thecasing 19 and battery contained therein have been removed from the bodyportion 5.

From the foregoing it will be seen that due to the construction of theretaining plate, the light rays from the lamp 2| will be projectedtowards the writing end of the pencil and will pass through thetransparent casing 5 and conical cap 6 to illuminate the surface onwhich the pencil is writing.

What is claimed is:

1. In an internally illuminated pencil, a tubular transparent casingconstructed of yieldable material, a rotatable transparent cap closingone end of the casing, a lead projecting and retracting means secured tothe cap, extending into the casing, said lead projecting and retractingmeans including a screw and a member rotated by rotation of the cap,lighting means disposed at the rear of the lead projecting andretracting means, a retaining plate secured to the inner end of thescrew directly in front of the lighting means, said retaining platehaving notches formed in the ends thereof, and lugs on the inner surfaceof the casing extending into the notches r'emo'vably securing theretaining plate and lead projecting andretrac'ting means in positionwithin the casing.

2. In an internally illuminated pencil, a tubular transparent casingconstructed of yieldable material, a rotatable transparent cap closingone end of the casing, a lead projecting and retracting means secured tothe cap, extending into the casing, said lead projecting and retractingmeans including a screw and a member rotated by the rotation of the cap,lighting means disposed in the rear of the lead projecting andretracting means, a retaining plate secured to the inner end of thescrew directly in front of the lighting means, said retaining platehaving notches formed in the ends thereof, lugs on the inner surface ofthe casing extending into the notches removably securing the leadprojecting and retracting means in positionwithi-n the casing, and thewall of said casing having-grooves extending from one end thereofterminating at the lugs on the inner surface of the casing providing aguide for the 0f the plate when positioning the .plate within; thecasing.

3. In an internally illuminated pencil, a tubular tra sparent casingconstructed of yieldab le material, a rotatable transparent cap closingone end ofithe casing, a lead projecting and retracting 'm'e'anS securedto the cap, extending into the casing, said lead projecting andretracting means including a screw and a member rotated by rotation ofthe capnighnng means disposed at the rear of "the lea'dpro'jecti'ng andretracting means, a retaining plate secured to the inner end ofthescrew, the ends of the retaining plate b l l'lg parallel With theWall Of the Casing, said. retaining plate having notches formed "in theends thereof, and lugs on the inner surface of the casing extending intothe notches rmovably seeu'i ingthe lead projecting and retracting meansin position within the casing. I

I 1 JOHN J. -DEVINE.

.No references cited.

